I MADE YOU A PROMISE

"Where are your manners, you brat? What have you done to my son? Marriage?" Constance Kent— Irwin's mother.

Eisley looked at Robert and the blonde lady in a white dress. Her eyes were almost the same as Irwin's. Robert wasn't stopping her, so she was indeed Irwin's mother.

"I—"

"Shut your mouth," She exhaled, "Leave while I am nice, my son wouldn't marry any girl,"

"Says who?" Irwin asked from behind Eisley. She immediately turned subconsciously to his voice. Irwin sized her, and Eisley looked away once his eyes flared. He must have seen the redness on her cheek.

Irwin walked closer to Eisley and cupped her jaw, turning her face to him. Eisley raised her eyes to his, and his eyes were dark, brimming with rage.

They didn't seem to have a nice relationship. All this while she never thought he had a family, why didn't she think about it? Her relationship with Irwin wasn't a relationship for such.

Fear washed through Eisley like a bucket of water. She wasn't sure why she was in this mess. But through their glares.

"Leave," He said, Eisley turned away to leave, but Irwin held her hands, stopping her. He looked at his mother. "I said Leave,"

"Don't be ridiculous, marriage? You? You think you're capable of marriage! Let's not do this again, dumb her while I am being nice, you don't want to see me angry,"

"Are you done talking? Then leave," Irwin said.

Constance smiled, darting at Eisley and Irwin. She shook her head, "Are you challenging me, Irwin? Have you forgotten who made you who you are?"

Irwin let go of Eisley's hand. "I'll come to you later," he said.

Eisley nodded and walked out of the building. She proceeded to the garden. The words of Constance played in her head like a lullaby.

"She's back again. Oh gosh, I pity Miss Mercer. What is she going to do?" Eisley's feet stopped. She looked to her side. They were two ladies she had never seen before, but they knew her, so she stood there listening.

"What if she finds out about Irwin's past? I heard Mrs Richardson still wants him. At least, Mrs Richardson is rich and powerful enough to challenge Mrs Kent, Miss Mercer," one of them said and sighed.

Eisley's phone rang, and she immediately hid behind the walls. She didn't know she had been with her phone as it hid in her pocket. She picked up the call, heading in the other direction.

"Eisley?" A faint voice whispered.

Eisley looked at her phone, contemplating if she should answer it.

"Wait! Don't hang up, I have something to tell you, it's very important,"

"Who's this?" Eisley asked, but the caller went silent. It was not a number saved on her phone.

"If you really want to know about your mother, then I can help you," Eisley's heart shook. The person hung up before she could say anything.

Her mother? Was that a prank call? There was no time or place. How was she supposed to meet up? Her heart began to ache. The very womdespisedespises all her life, the woman she cursed while Magnus took advantage of her.

Her phone vibrated, and an email came in, along with a text message.

TEXT MESSAGE ONE: Hi Eisley, it's me, Robina Hawton. Do you remember me? We used to be friends and sit-mates in high school. I have been trying to reach you for a while, but every time I did, your husband made it impossible to meet you,"

"Robina?" Tears sat at the brim of her eyes as she remembered her. Robina was her best friend in high school until her world became dark.

The tears rolled down her eyes, but she proceeded to open the email.

EMAIL ONE: "Hey! Eisley? Please, this is you, I have emailed you several times. It's Aurora Dutton, I have searched everywhere for you. I heard you got married, and I was able to track you down with your name. Are you doing well? Call me if you see this email.

Eisley fell to her knees, crying. Her sobs became louder it attracted the people around. When she thought everyone didn't want to get involved with her, she was wrong all this while.

Tears streaked down her cheeks as she remembered her bright days in high school. All the school events she wasn't able to attend any. She had only found out through a stalking account. Magnus was never supposed to find out she was on social media, but she had a secretly activated one.

A loud footstep stamped in front of her. Eisley swallowed back her cries and looked up while she wiped her eyes. Robert stood staring at her.

"Mr Kent is looking for you,"

"I don't feel like seeing him," she sniffed, walking past him.

Robert followed. Eisley turned back, irritated by his presence.

"Tell him I don't want to see him! Don't you understand English anymore, Robert!" Her chest heaved with rage.

"Miss Mercer!" Robert yelled, watching her leave until she wasn't in his sight anymore.

Eisley stopped in front of the mansion. Magnus sat by a corner, smoking. Despite losing her, he looked relaxed, without worries.

His phone suddenly rang, and he picked up. "Mom," he sighed. Eisley stood watching him. He might not have seen her, but the sight of him made her so furious.

"I told you, Eisley can't come to your birthday party! She can't!" He yelled. "She's not feeling too well. No, she's not pregnant, mom!"

Eisley lowered her head, took a deep breath, and walked towards him.

"Mother! Don't worry, I will come for your birthday," Eisley yelled

Magnus jumped, surprised by her presence. "What are you doing?"

"I might be angry at you, but it's mother, and I'd like to see her again," Magnus hung up, staring at her. "I may have not had a mother, but she has always been a mother to me,"

He nodded. "Right?"

Eisley plastered an exaggerated smile. "Of course, she took me as her own,"

"She did. She loved you in a way your mother could never. I understand,"

Eisley's smile disappeared. She turned around to leave, but Magnus caught her wrist, standing.

"Eisley,"

"I'm only doing this for Mother," her eyes danced around his. A sick smile imprinted his lips, the same smile he gave whenever he was about to abuse her.

Eisley jerked away, darting around. She was about to leave when she bumped into Irwin. His men stood behind him while he held a small phone in his hand.

"I've been looking for you," he said calmly, but his brows furrowed when he noticed her eyes a bit swollen.

"I was in the garden, I had to answer some call," she said, unable to look up at him.

"Okay. I have an important meeting, and I won't be home early," Irwin said. Eisley nodded.

"Okay."

Irwin walked past her, and Magnus followed. Eisley continued heading into the mansion.

"Oh, Miss Mercer, I have searched everywhere for you. Your appointment that Mr Kent made is almost here," Grace rushed to her.

Eisley looked around and noticed that Irwin's mother was nowhere to be found.

The whole day, Eisley stared at her phone. She had sent messages back, but there wasn't any response yet.

While she slept, her phone binged. Her eyes opened, and she quickly reached out for her phone, staring at it.

Aurora had replied: Sure! I would love to!

Eisley giggled, staring at the messages. This was the best she had the whole day. She could finally have someone to see and eat with.

A figure sitting in the room had startled her. Eisley reached to turn on the lights, and her hands shook. The moment she turned it on, she sighed heavily.

"You look stressed while sleeping tonight," Irwin said.

Eisley looked away. The intensity of his gaze was causing heat to spread through her.

"I thought you wouldn't be coming home tonight?" She asked.

"I missed you," His voice was dangerously low. Eisley gulped hard, and her heart twitched for a second. If she didn't know their deal, she would have thought he wasn't lying.

Eisley got up and grabbed a jug of water, pouring into her glass. "Your mother, did she already leave?"

Irwin stood up and walked towards her. He leaned closer to her and took her wrist. Her phone dropped from her hand, and Irwin pulled her to his body forcefully.

"Stop it, I am not in that mood. I asked if your mother had gone, Irwin?"

"Is that why you were crying? Don't tell me it's because of that slap?" He asked with an aggressive tone, his gaze piercing on her.

Eisley sniffed, struggling out of his grip, but he wasn't her match.

"You're hurting me!" Eisley yelled, breaking down even more.

"Get a grip, Eisley! We are getting married, I made you a promise, right? A deal? I am not one to go back on my promises!"